News

Palo Alto man one of escaped inmates still at large

Laron Campbell one of two who broke out of Santa Clara County jail

Laron Campbell of Palo Alto is sought by Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office after he escaped from the main jail in San Jose Wednesday, Nov. 23. Courtesy SCCSO.

A Palo Alto man is one of two inmates who escaped Wednesday night from the main jail in San Jose and are still at-large, Santa Clara County sheriff's officials said.

As of Saturday afternoon, law enforcement officers were still looking for 33-year-old San Jose man Rogelio Chavez and 26-year-old Palo Alto man Laron Campbell.

Two other inmates escaped shortly before 11:08 p.m. Wednesday, but were apprehended quickly. All four used bed sheets and clothes to lower themselves from a second floor cell window, sheriff's officials said.

The inmates cut through the bars on the window, though investigators did not find any cutting tools in the cell or in the surrounding area in their investigation.

The search continues through leads and tips from the public, but surveillance video showed that Campbell and Chavez made it outside of a perimeter of officers around the jail, according to sheriff's officials.

Federal and Bay Area law enforcement personnel are involved in the search.

Campbell was booked into the jail on Feb. 12, 2015, on charges including robbery, false imprisonment, criminal threats and firearms violations, deputies said. He is described as black, 6 feet 4 inches tall and 220 pounds.

Chavez was booked into the jail on Aug. 17 on various charges including burglary, extortion, false imprisonment, resisting arrest and firearms violations, deputies said. He is described as Hispanic, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 190 pounds with a distinctive facial tattoo above and below his left eye.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Rich Glennon said deputies don't know whether Chavez and Campbell are armed but they are considered dangerous.

Anyone who sees either Chavez or Campbell should use extreme caution and call 911.

On Friday, Sheriff Laurie Smith announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the successful capture of the two inmates.

Anyone with information on the case should call the Santa Clara County Sheriff Office investigations unit at 408-808-4500 or the anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.

Posted by worrier
a resident of St. Claire Gardens
on Nov 25, 2016 at 2:24 pm

What makes Laron a Palo Alto man? Previous arrests identified him as an Oakland resident. Pertinent to probability that he is headed this direction. I'm sure the police know previous addresses and contacts, but the public is left in the dark, only encouraging us to suspect the places around here that offer handouts.

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